Schlagwort-Archive: ASO

The heroes of La Vuelta (3/6) : Richard Carapaz

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Photo by HERBERT MOOS
Photo by HERBERT MOOS

Six currently active riders took place on the final podium of the three Grand Tours: Alejandro Valverde, Vincenzo Nibali, Chris Froome, Nairo Quintana, Primoz Roglic and Richard Carapaz. If we extend the statistics to cycling in the 21st century, Carlos Sastre, Denis Menchov, Alberto Contador, Cadel Evans and Joaquim „Purito“ Rodriguez join them. But only one athlete, in the entire history of cycling, has achieved this treble and won the Olympic gold medal in the road race: Richard Carapaz, winner of the Giro 2019, 2nd in La Vuelta 20 and 3rd in the Tour 2021.

Richard Carapaz only returned to competition this year in the Volta a Catalunya (21st) at the end of March and was just as discreet at the Itzulia Pays Basque (19th), for the double reason that his 2020 season was ended late (November 8 with La Vuelta) and that he had big ambitions for this summer. In fact, he has perfectly managed his form: winner of the Tour de Suisse in mid-June, 3rd in the Tour de France and Olympic champion in July. It would have been more than enough to return and enjoy his glory at home. Before him, only one Ecuadorian athlete had won Olympic gold: Jefferson Pérez in racewalking in 1996, and a week after Carapaz, Neisi Dajomes did the same in weightlifting. But he has a still unfulfilled task that is close to his heart: to win La Vuelta.

Last year, instead of expressing any bitterness about the narrowly missed victory (2nd with a gap of 24“ to Primoz Roglic), he left the event by declaring: „I’m leaving very happy because I lived the end of the race with a lot of hope, and throughout the course, I saw a lot of Ecuadorian flags, it was beautiful. I felt special support. These were really great times!“ For the record, this was an autumnal Vuelta with a small number of spectators present. Richard Carapaz’s emotions are therefore likely to be increased tenfold with the support of the „responsible public“ (masked and concerned about social distancing) expected this summer, if he gets back „La Roja“, the red leader’s jersey he wore five days in 2020 before giving it a second time to Primoz Roglic at Mirador de Ézaro (in the ITT). He placed one last banderilla, sharp and sustained, on the final ascent of La Vuelta 20, the Alto de la Covatilla. „I finished this race with the same smile I had when I arrived because I gave everything, it was a beautiful La Vuelta, I had a lot of fun there“, he concluded at the end of this third participation in the Spanish Grand Tour.

Richard Carapaz was a bit late in becoming a hero of La Vuelta unlike the Giro d’Italia where he won (stage 8, Montevergine di Mercogliano), wore the white jersey and finished 4th overall in his first participation in 2018, before bringing the pink jersey all the way to Verona the following year. But it was La Vuelta that served as his first Grand Tour, in 2017, undoubtedly the edition that least favored Movistar, his team at the time (no stage victory, Dani Moreno the best ranked in the final, 18th). For his debut, Richard Carapaz attacked several times without success (his best result: 11th on the Angliru, the day Alberto Contador came out in style on the eve of his end of career). In 2018, despite his record of service at the Giro, he resolved to act as a teammate, in favour of Alejandro Valverde (5th overall after having occupied the podium for a long time) and Nairo Quintana (designated leader at the start, 8th at the finish).
He was still due to participate in La Vuelta 19, but he left the squad at the last moment following a crash in a criterium he rode in the Netherlands the previous Sunday. He was on the way out from Movistar, the team that had accompanied him in his professional debut following his apprenticeship at Lizarte. He often reiterates, citing his former amateur team in Navarre, that he owes the launch of his professional cycling career to Spain. Last year, he was equally grateful to Chris Froome, his Ineos teammate who had helped him despite the difficulties encountered in his physical reconstruction following his terrible accident in 2019, but he did not have the strongest armada to support him.

This time, the British team are lining up particularly impressive names on paper: Egan Bernal, Richard Carapaz, Adam Yates, Pavel Sivakov, Tom Pidcock, Jhonathan Narvaez, Salvatore Puccio and Dylan van Baarle! Carapaz is therefore not the only Olympic champion freshly covered with gold in this squad since Pidcock, 22, cyclo-cross prodigy and already protagonist of the great classics, won the MTB event in Tokyo.
„It is a great honour for us, the organisers, that Team Ineos has fielded such a selection of champions“, said Javier Guillén, General Manager of La Vuelta. „It says a lot about their ambitions. Bernal and Carapaz are the two current leaders in South American cycling and it is a continent that is dear to us. Both have the capacity to win the event like two Colombians did before them [Luis Herrera in 1987 and Nairo Quintana in 2016]. Carapaz is now an icon with its Olympic title. The mastery with which he won the road race has thrilled aficionados all over the world, I think. We also appreciate his kindness and his smile. He has everything to be a hero of La Vuelta.“

THE HEROES OF LA VUELTA (2/6) FABIO ARU

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Photo by Plomi

Of the three La Vuelta winners who have announced their participation this year, Fabio Aru is one of the two, along with Primoz Roglic, to have worn the leader’s jersey of the three Grand Tours. The third, Alejandro Valverde only participated once in the Giro d’Italia where he won a stage and finished on the podium (3rd in 2016) but without donning the pink tunic. The Italian’s second place in the Tour de Burgos is a sign of his return to the forefront, at the age of 31.
La Vuelta 2015 is remembered for its turnaround on the eve of the finish. An edition marked by a duel of two athletes with opposing physique – the great roller Tom Dumoulin, six days with La Roja, against the little beetle Esteban Chaves – who eventually saw the main prize snatched away from them by Fabio Aru, predestined champion whose trajectory recalled Vincenzo Nibali: “Il Cavaliere dei 4 mori” (the knight of the 4 Moors) is from an island, Sardinia, as “the shark” got his nickname from the Strait of Messina, between his native Sicily and mainland Italy, and, above all, the two men registered La Vuelta as the first Grand Tour in their winning records (Nibali five years before Aru).

Wearing the pink Giro jersey in 2015 (one day), Aru, winner of a 2017 Tour de France stage at La Planche des Belles Filles like Nibali in 2014, remains the only one to have dispossessed the great Chris Froome and his untouchable Team Sky of the yellow jersey, if only for two days. It also happened in 2017, thanks to a steep finale towards Peyragudes. Aru loves the Pyrenees. He has a soft spot for Spain and its identity. He is a man of letters, who studied in classical high school. He knows the history and the Mediterranean culture that connects Sardinia to Catalonia. The Catalan-inspired flag still flies in Alghero, in the northwest of the island.

The start of his history with La Vuelta dates back to a stage victory on September 3, 2014, in San Miguel de Aralar (stage 11). He put on the ropes the leader of the event, Alberto Contador, and the impressive parterre of favorites then composed of Chris Froome, Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim „Purito“ Rodriguez, but no longer Nairo Quintana, forced to retire on that day, a stone’s throw away from his European home in Pamplona (winner of the Giro that year, he was racing at Movistar). In the commentary, Pedro Delgado had let out a cry of surprise tinged with compliments when the young Italian, 24 years old at the time, revealed to the general public three months earlier by his stage victory at Plan di Montecampione on the Giro, had accelerated 2 km from the top of the steep Navarre ascent. He made his first real attack 1.5 km from the goal, still with Contador on the lookout, and with 400 m of climbing to go, he soared on his own to take his first victory outside of Italy.

„Did you see who I beat?“ Fabio Aru marvelled as he got off his bike. Indeed, the standings behind him were full of stars: 2nd Alejandro Valverde, 3rd Joaquim ‘Purito’ Rodriguez, 4th Alberto Contador, 5th Chris Froome, 6th Rigoberto Uran, 7th Samuel Sanchez and 8th Dan Martin! „Aru reminds me of myself when I was young“, Alberto Contador said as he was about to win his third and final La Vuelta. „He has the same pedal stroke and the same way of riding. The same change of pace on the hill as well. And he’s a brave one! He will be the star of the next few years.“ Four days earlier, Contador had turned to Aru within the peloton: „How are you? “ The Italian believed the Madrileño was speaking to their mutual friend Paolo Tiralongo. „Can you imagine, Paolo, he was talking to me!“, Aru marvelled.

This victory would be followed with more success a week later, when Aru won again, at Monte Castrove in Meis (stage 18), before completing the Spanish Grand Tour in fifth position in the final standings established at… Santiago de Compostela – a sign of fate for his return to La Vuelta 21, also finishing in the emblematic Galician city? After his triumph in 2015, Fabio Aru finished 13th in La Vuelta 17, a race he had approached tired after his very fine Tour de France, then 23rd in 2018. We saw him cry at a stage start in 2019 before his abandonment (13th stage) because he could not express his talents. He suffered from back pain and experienced various health concerns.
„It’s a pleasure to see him come back to form just before La Vuelta“, general manager Javier Guillén rejoices, „because Fabio Aru has left us fond memories when he was one of the great protagonists. As Alberto Contador said, he is a brave man. In full possession of his means, he offers spectacular cycling. He is completely in the spirit of La Vuelta.“

The heroes of La Vuelta (1/6) : Alejandro Valverde

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Alejandro Valverde’s name naturally emerges among the heroes of La Vuelta as an example of longevity, at 41 years old, eighteen years after his first stage victory!


Photo by Plomi

When the Tour de France made a stopover in the Principality of Andorra last month, the race was still to cross the border, through the Port d’Envalira, when the chroniclers already recalled it was the place where Alejandro Valverde had won his first stage on a Grand Tour: La Vuelta. The event took place on September 14th, 2003, at the end of a stage that started from Vielha. The Murcian emerged from a ten rider group at the last minute, including overall leader Isidro Nozal. It was his second participation in La Vuelta, in his second pro season, with Kelme-Costa Blanca. Before abandoning the first, contested at the age of 22, during the 15th stage leading to the Alto de l’Angliru, he had obtained his first result in Cordoba (stage 9), where La Vuelta 21 returns (stage 12). He was 4th on the occasion, outsprinting Erik Zabel behind three breakaway riders. The winner of the day, Pablo Lastras, is now one of his sports directors at Movistar.

The Port of Envalira allowed him to show his ability to display such speed at high altitude as well. His declarations on the spot offer a view on how far he’s come eighteen years later: “Winning here in La Vuelta is the best thing that has happened to me so far in my career” he said. “I am really happy. I dedicate it to all those who support me, to the team […]. Now I have made it happen. The rest is a bonus. I cried because I didn’t expect to win such a stage. I don’t know my limits yet.“ The emergence of a new generation? „That is true. Here we are, Isidro Nozal, Joaquim Rodriguez and myself. It’s good for cycling that there is a succession.“

Other successes since then have brought tears to Spain’s greatest cyclist of all time – at least through the eclecticism of his record. We saw him in a trance in a tent in Innsbruck before speaking in a flash interview after his victory at the 2018 World Championship. He was still moved at Mas de la Costa for his last victory at La Vuelta, to date, wearing the rainbow jersey when he had just defeated Primoz Roglic, Miguel Angel Lopez and Nairo Quintana (stage 7 in 2019).
Put in numbers, the relationship between Alejandro Valverde and La Vuelta weighs: 14 participations, a final victory (2009), 7 times on the final podium, 4 victories in the points classification (2012, 2013, 2015, 2018), 12 stage wins, 27 days wearing the leader’s jersey, only one abandon (as a rookie). For Javier Guillén, director of La Vuelta, the champion is an essential figure, “not only in cycling, but for sport in general. Valverde surpasses his winning record, which is already unrivaled in itself. It’s a constant smile, the embodiment of effort, the loyalty to a team and a race, his involvement for the fans… Alejandro is one of the most important figures in Spanish sport in the 21st century.”
His second place on the Tour de France in Andorra, behind the American Sepp Kuss, on July 11th, indicates that his harvest on the Spanish round is not necessarily over, but whatever happens between Burgos and Saint-Jacques -de-Compostela, his mark will forever remain in the history of the event.

Arctic Race of Norway – Etappe 2

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Nordkjosbotn – Storfjord – Kilpisjärvi (FIN) – 178 Km

1 LAAS Martin EST BORA – HANSGROHE 03:56:14
2 KRISTOFF Alexander NOR NORWAY 00:00
3 VAN POPPEL Danny NED INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY – GOBERT MATÉRIAUX 00:00
4 BARBIER Rudy FRA ISRAEL START-UP NATION 00:00
5 PEÑALVER ANIORTE Manuel ESP BURGOS-BH 00:00
6 MARIT Arne BEL SPORT VLAANDEREN – BALOISE 00:00
7 DEVRIENDT Tom BEL INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY – GOBERT MATÉRIAUX 00:00
8 WELTEN Bram NED TEAM ARKEA – SAMSIC 00:00
9 BOASSON-HAGEN Edvald NOR TOTALENERGIES 00:00
10 COQUARD Bryan FRA B&B HOTELS P/B KTM 00:00

Gesamt:
1 KRISTOFF Alexander NOR NORWAY 07:07:33
2 HOELGAARD Markus NOR UNO – X PRO CYCLING TEAM 00:00
3 COQUARD Bryan FRA B&B HOTELS P/B KTM 00:08
4 AASVOLD Kristian NOR TEAM COOP 00:09
5 BATTISTELLA Samuele ITA ASTANA – PREMIER TECH 00:10
6 SOTO GUIRAO Antonio Jesus ESP EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 00:11
7 PICHON Laurent FRA TEAM ARKEA – SAMSIC 00:11
8 VAN GESTEL Dries BEL TOTALENERGIES 00:12
9 ANGULO SAMPEDRO Antonio ESP EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 00:12
10 ZINGLE Axel FRA COFIDIS 00:12

Martin Laas siegt auf der 2. Etappe des Arctic Race of Norway

Am zweiten Tag ging es über 177,6 km von Nordkjosbotn nach Kilpisjärvi. Es war das erste Mal in der Geschichte der Rundfahrt, dass das Rennen einen Abstecher nach Finnland machte. Nach welligem Auftakt und einem flachen Mittelteil warteten auf den letzten 40 km, die fast ständig bergauf führten, noch zwei Bergwertungen, ehe es dann wellig bis zum Ziel ging. Trotz der Anstiege war die Etappe etwas für die Sprinter, die am Ende den Tag für sich entschieden. Eine starke 5-Mann Ausreißergruppe prägte das Rennen für lange Zeit, aber nachdem im letzten Renndrittel die Sprinterteams, besonders auch BORA – hansgrohe, die Führungsarbeit verstärkt übernommen hatten, war es letztendlich 2 km vor dem Ziel um die letzten Flüchtlinge geschehen. Im Finale lancierte Martin Laas seinen Sprint von ziemlich weit hinten, konnte aber an seinen Kontrahenten in letzter Minute vorbeiziehen und den Sieg in einem Fotofinish einfahren.

Reaktionen im Ziel
„Ich bin wirklich froh, dass ich heute gewinnen konnte, vor allem wenn man in Betracht zieht, wie viele starke Sprinter hier im Peloton sind. Das Finale war etwas knifflig, es gab Gegenwind, am Ende ging es leicht bergab, und 5 km vor dem Ziel hatte ich Krämpfe. Aber dank meines Teams konnten wir unseren Plan letztendlich durchziehen. Im Finale hat Rudi mich in Position gebracht und dann habe ich mich an verschiedene Hinterräder geklemmt und auf den letzten 150 m habe ich meinen Sprint lanciert. Ich dachte, ich könnte Kristoff überholen, aber am Ende war es wirklich sehr knapp. Danke an das ganze Team für die Unterstützung und das Lead-out heute.“ – Martin Laas

„Unser Ziel war Martin für den Sprint zu unterstützen. Wir haben alles investiert und wollten am Anfang keine große Gruppe weglassen. Letztendlich hat sich eine starke 5-Mann Gruppe vom Feld gelöst und konnte sich lange an der Spitze halten, aber wir haben dann zeitig mit Juraj angefangen nachzufahren. Das war eine sehr starke Teamleistung, und am Ende haben die Jungs den Sprint für Martin so gut wie möglich vorbereitet. Das war ein toller Sieg von ihm und wir sind natürlich sehr zufrieden damit.“ – Enrico Poitschke, Sportlicher Leiter

Laas but not least

Estonia’s Martin Laas of Bora-Hansgrohe upset stage favourite Alexander Kristoff in a bunch gallop in Kilpisjärvi, Finland, but the second place enabled the Norwegian to move into the lead of the overall classification, equal on time with his compatriot Markus Hoelgaard who will face the opposition the climbers like Odd Christian Eiking, Warren Barguil and Ben Hermans in the queen stage to Målselv on Saturday.

Five riders in the lead
110 riders started stage 2 in Nordkjosnbotn, heading to Kilpisjärvi, Finland, for the first ever stage finish abroad. A group of five leaders was formed quickly after the flag off, including one Norwegian, Fredrik Dversenes (Team Coop), and no less than four Belgians, namely Oliver Naesen (AG2R-Citroën), Jimmy Janssens (Alpecin-Fenix), Cedric Beulens (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) and Ceriel Desal (Bingoal Pauwels Sauce-WB). The peloton trailed by 3’ after 38km of racing. Pulling at the head of the pack, Uno-X, the team of race leader Markus Hoelgaard, made the sure the gap wouldn’t go over 3’30’’. Within 50km to go, the front group slimmed down as only Naesen, Janssens and Dversenes remained at the front with an advantage of two minutes that indicated a bunch gallop to finish with.

Hoelgaard tries his luck in the last intermediate sprint
While Janssens focused on the intermediate sprints, Dversenes gave it all for the mountain prizes and won the three KOM sprints, taking all 9 points up for grabs. He took over from Gleb Brussenskiy (Astana-Premier Tech) in the popular salmon jersey with an advantage of one point. Naesen was brought back by the pack before the intermediate sprint located right on the border between Norway and Finland. Hoelgaard tried to take the opportunity to extend his lead in the overall ranking but he was denied by Laurent Pichon (Arkea-Samsic), third behind Janssens and Dversenes. The Frenchman therefore indicated that his captain Warren Barguil takes the winner of stage 1 very seriously with regards to the final win.

Kristof beaten in a tight sprint finish
Janssens and Dversenes were reeled in with 2km to go. Israel-Start Up-Nation seized the reins of the peloton, having designated France’s Rudy Barbier as their sprinter for his top end speed rather than Rick Zabel. Kristoff got a nice lead out from the Norwegian national team, especially Sven-Erik Bystrøm and Andreas Leknessund, but Laas came out of the box very late as there was a slightly head wind to finish and it was the proper choice. With 6’’ bonus, Kristoff had enough to be on pair with Hoelgaard and take the lead on GC before the climbers’ affair on Saturday.

Arctic Race of Norway – Etappe 1

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Tromsø – 143 Km

1 HOELGAARD Markus NOR UNO – X PRO CYCLING TEAM 03:11:29
2 KRISTOFF Alexander NOR NORWAY 00:02
3 COQUARD Bryan FRA B&B HOTELS P/B KTM 00:02
4 SOTO GUIRAO Antonio Jesus ESP EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 00:02
5 AASVOLD Kristian NOR TEAM COOP 00:02
6 ANGULO SAMPEDRO Antonio ESP EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 00:02
7 BARGUIL Warren FRA TEAM ARKEA – SAMSIC 00:02
8 VENTURINI Clement FRA AG2R CITROEN TEAM 00:02
9 DE GENDT Aime BEL INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY – GOBERT MATÉRIAUX 00:02
10 EIKING Odd Christian NOR INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY – GOBERT MATÉRIAUX 00:02

Gesamt:
1 HOELGAARD Markus NOR UNO – X PRO CYCLING TEAM 03:11:19
2 KRISTOFF Alexander NOR NORWAY 00:06
3 COQUARD Bryan FRA B&B HOTELS P/B KTM 00:08
4 AASVOLD Kristian NOR TEAM COOP 00:09
5 BATTISTELLA Samuele ITA ASTANA – PREMIER TECH 00:10
6 SOTO GUIRAO Antonio Jesus ESP EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 00:11
7 ANGULO SAMPEDRO Antonio ESP EUSKALTEL – EUSKADI 00:12
8 BARGUIL Warren FRA TEAM ARKEA – SAMSIC 00:12
9 VENTURINI Clement FRA AG2R CITROEN TEAM 00:12
10 DE GENDT Aime BEL INTERMARCHÉ – WANTY – GOBERT MATÉRIAUX 00:12

Markus Hoelgaard, the last man to have won a stage at the Arctic Race of Norway before the outbreak, is also the first to do so as the race returned in the cycling news. The Norwegian from Uno-X counter-attacked the climbers at the very end to solo to victory in the streets of Tromsø while top sprinters Alexander Kristroff and Bryan Coquard rounded out the podium of stage 1.
Four riders in the lead

111 riders took the start of stage 1 in the 8th Arctic Race of Norway in Tromsø. Gleb Brussenskiy (Astana- Premier Tech), Alexis Gougeard (AG2R-Citroën) and Alex Colman (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise) were the first riders to make a move. As the peloton let them go, they enjoyed an advantage of 4’10’’ after 15km of racing. Tor Andre Aase Vabø (Team Coop) caught up them after a solo chase but the peloton led by B&B Hotels-KTM maintained the gap below two minutes at half way into the race. Brussenskiy went by himself to grab KOM points at Katfjordeidet summit with 52km to go while attacks started to take place at the head of the pack. 30km before the end, the bunch was just 1’ adrift.

Barguil and Eiking show their ambitions

Gougeard dropped his breakaway companions and forged on despite a strong chase and lots of offensives at the head of the peloton. Bora-Hansgrohe, Intermarché-Wanty Gobert and Astana were the most active teams. They put an end to Gougeard’s odyssey with 11.8km remaining. In the second of three passages atop Holtevegen summit, Warren Barguil (Arkea-Samsic) tested his legs, followed by Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) but it was Kristian Aasvold (Team Coop) who managed to go clear, firstly joined by Samuele Battistella (Astana) who’d still have some energy in the final sprint to become the best young rider. Barguil who said on the eve of the race that GC could be shaped on stage 1 went for it again in the last ascent to Holtevegen. Pre-race favourite Odd Christian Eiking (Intermarché-Wanty Gobert) reacted, so did Giro d’Italia stage winner Victor Lafay (Cofidis).

Hoelgaard like in 2019

Hoelgaard counter-attacked after the three climbers gave an indication on who to await on the queen stage to Målselv on Saturday. Homeboy Andreas Leknessund, racing for the Norwegian national team, was close to bridge the gap with 2km to go but the final rush of the Uno-X rider prevented anybody from catching up with him, the same way he rode to victory two years ago on the conclusive stage in Narvik. It was a 1-2 for Norwegians as Kristoff, also racing for the Norwegian national team on this occasion, crossed the line two seconds later, before B&B Hotels-KTM’s Coquard. After the great show of the opening stage, the Arctic Race of Norway will head to a foreign country for the first time ever as stage 2 will finish in Kilpisjärvi, Finland.

Grünes Licht für die Jedermann Tour am 29. August in Nürnberg

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Grünes Licht für Hobbyradsportler*innen in Nürnberg. Das Gesundheitsamt der Frankenmetropole hat das Hygienekonzept der Jedermann Tour genehmigt. Für alle Teilnehmenden gilt am 29. August die 3G-Regel (geimpft, genesen, getestet). Auch wenn die aktuellen Anmeldezahlen die Erwartungen bereits übertreffen, sind noch Startplätze auf jedermann.deutschland-tour.com verfügbar. Ein Geschenk ist inklusive: alle Teilnehmenden erhalten ein kostenloses Santini-Trikot im „fränkischen Design“.

Bereits am Vortag der Jedermann Tour (Samstag, 28. August), ist im Startbereich auf dem Hauptmarkt die Startnummern-Ausgabe geöffnet. Zwischen 14:00 und 20:00 Uhr kann der Starterbeutel abgeholt und der 3G-Nachweis vorgezeigt werden.

Am Finaltag der Deutschland Tour (Sonntag, 29. August) starten auf dem Nürnberger Hauptmarkt um 09:30 Uhr Jedefrau und Jedermann, die sich für die kurze Strecke angemeldet haben. Die 55 Kilometer mit nicht allzu schwerem Profil bieten sich perfekt für Einsteiger an. Eine Stunde später, um 10:30 Uhr, gehen die ambitionierteren Radsportler*innen auf die lange Distanz. Mit 108 Kilometern und 1.750 Höhenmetern ist die Runde durch die Fränkische Schweiz anspruchsvoller. Zur Einstimmung auf die Jedermann Tour stehen Trainingspläne, Karten, Höhenprofile und sogar GPX-Dateien auf jedermann.deutschland-tour.com bereit.

Noch bis zum nächsten Sonntag gilt der „Sommerferien Spezial“-Tarif: bereits ab 90 Euro kann der Start bei der Jedermann Tour, inklusive dem kostenlosen Trikot, gebucht werden. Die Jedermann Tour ist als sorgenfreies Fahrrad-Fest hoch professionell organisiert: Die Strecken sind komplett für den Autoverkehr gesperrt, dazu gibt es Verpflegung und Materialservice im Rennen. Die Online-Anmeldung erfolgt unter jedermann.deutschland-tour.com.
Höhepunkt für alle Teilnehmer: bereits vor den Profis fahren Jedefrau und Jedermann durch das Ziel an der Nürnberger Oper. Nach den Hobbyfahrer*innen fährt die Radsport-Weltelite um den Gesamtsieg der Deutschland Tour 2021. Die Schlussetappe verläuft durch die Fränkische Schweiz und endet für die Top-Stars mit drei Zielrunden auf dem bekannten Nürnberger Altstadtkurs.

Aus Hygienegründen müssen die Teilnehmenden der Jedermann Tour in diesem Jahr leider auf einige Extra-Services verzichten. So kann die traditionelle Pasta-Party am Vorabend nicht stattfinden. Hierfür gebuchte Tickets werden über das Anmeldesystem unkompliziert zurückerstattet.

Rekord zum Jubiläum: 13 WorldTour-Teams bei Eschborn-Frankfurt

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Am 19. September feiert Eschborn-Frankfurt das 60. Jubiläum und freut sich auf hochkarätige „Gäste“. Denn zum Geburtstag gibt es einen Rekord: erstmals starten 13 Teams aus der WorldTour beim Radklassiker. Gemeinsam mit den Mannschaften der ersten Kategorie stehen 7 ProTeams am Start in Eschborn, um vor der Alten Oper in Frankfurt den diesjährigen Gewinner von Eschborn-Frankfurt zu küren.

Die beiden deutschen Mannschaften BORA – hansgrohe und Team DSM wollen das Heimspiel genauso nutzen, wie UAE-Team Emirates um den Seriensieger Alexander Kristoff. Auch die Mannschaft Lotto Soudal von Lokalmatador John Degenkolb hat sich für den Taunusklassiker angekündigt. Gleich 16 der 20 Radklassiker-Teams haben in diesem Jahr die Tour de France bestritten. Die beste Mannschaft der Tour, Bahrain Victorious, ist genauso dabei wie Jumbo-Visma. 2014 startete die niederländische Equipe zuletzt in Eschborn.

Eschborn-Frankfurt als Generalprobe für die Weltmeisterschaft
In den kommenden Wochen werden die 20 Teams ihre sieben Fahrer nominieren, die den Radklassiker bestreiten. Eschborn-Frankfurt wird für viele Top-Stars zur WM-Generalprobe, denn das Rennen findet in diesem Jahr genau eine Woche vor den UCI Road World Championships statt. Neben dem Zeitpunkt bietet sich dafür auch der Streckenverlauf an. Mit 190 Kilometern und 3.222 Höhenmeter ist das WorldTour-Rennen eine letzte Belastung für die Klassikerspezialisten, die wenige Tage später in Belgien um das Regenbogen-Trikot kämpfen.

Am 19. September wird ein Doppel-Jubiläum gefeiert, denn auch die ŠKODA Velotour hat einen Jahrestag. Zum 20. Mal erleben die Hobbyradsportler*innen einen wahren Jedermann-Klassiker. Auf zwei abgesperrten Strecken (ŠKODA Velotour Classic über 100 Kilometer, ŠKODA Velotour Skyline über 40 Kilometer) kommen schnell Radklassiker-Gefühle auf. Wie bei den Profis zeichnet sich auch bei Jedermann und Jedefrau großer Zuspruch am Geburtstagsrennen ab. Wer auf dem Rad mitfeiern möchte, kann sich noch unter www.skoda-velotour.de anmelden.

Sportliche Höhepunkte der Deutschland Tour stehen fest

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In vier Wochen beginnt die Deutschland Tour 2021. Am 26. August stehen 132 Profis an der Startlinie in der Hansestadt Stralsund. Auf dem Weg nach Nürnberg legen sie in vier Tagen eine Distanz von über 720 Kilometern zurück. Mit den Berg-, Sprint- und Bonuswertungen stehen jetzt die Schlüsselpunkte für jede Etappe fest, bei denen um die prestigeträchtigen Wertungstrikots gekämpft wird.
Acht Zwischensprints und elf Bergwertungen werden für Spannung im Rennen sorgen. Kurz vor jedem Etappenfinale werden zusätzlich wertvolle Bonussekunden vergeben – ein Garant für späte Angriffe. Im Ziel warten auf die schnellsten Fahrer die üblichen Bonifikationen und Punkte.

Fabian Wegmann, Sportlicher Leiter der Deutschland Tour, zu den einzelnen Etappen der diesjährigen Rundfahrt:

1. Etappe: Hansestadt Stralsund – Schwerin
26. August (Donnerstag)
Distanz: 191,4 km | Höhenmeter: 950

DT21 Etappenprofil 1″Zum ersten Mal startet die Deutschland Tour an der Ostseeküste. Typisch für die Küste ist das Profil nach dem Start in Stralsund flach. Aber davon sollten sich die Profis nicht täuschen lassen. Als wir die Strecke planten, haben wir in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern einen Satz oft gehört: ‚Unsere Berge sind der Wind.‘ Und genau der könnte im zweiten Streckenteil eine Rolle spielen. Dann geht es zwar weg von der Küste, aber die Straßen werden kleiner, es gibt viele Richtungswechsel, das Gelände wird welliger und offener. Vermutlich werden sich die Sprinter in Schwerin die Chance auf das Rote Trikot nicht entgehen lassen, aber allzu sicher sollten sie sich nicht fühlen.“

2. Etappe: Sangerhausen – Ilmenau
27. August (Freitag)
Distanz: 180,9 km | Höhenmeter: 2.100

DT21 Etappenprofil 2″Nach der flachen Auftaktetappe müssen gleich zum Start der 2. Etappe die Kletterbeine ran. Ein kurzes Rausrollen aus Sangerhausen und dann geht es über 36 Serpentinen zum Kyffhäuser. Ich glaube, der Großteil im Peloton wird es ruhig angehen lassen und gleichmäßig hochfahren. Aber wer die Chance nutzen möchte und ein Auge auf das Bergtrikot geworfen hat, wird sich absetzen. Ich spekuliere darauf, dass wir noch vor Ilmenau auch Attacken aus dem Feld sehen werden. Das ständige rauf und runter in Thüringen lädt einfach ein, sich mit frischen Beinen einen Vorteil zu verschaffen. Ideal für Puncheure, die den Sprintern das Leben schwer machen wollen. Wer die Deutschland Tour in diesem Jahr gewinnen will, muss sich hier zeigen.“

3. Etappe: Ilmenau – Erlangen
28. August (Samstag)
Distanz: 193,9 km | Höhenmeter: 1.800

DT21 Etappenprofil 3″Auch zu Beginn der 3. Etappe wird sofort geklettert. Von Ilmenau aus geht es direkt zum höchsten Punkt der diesjährigen Deutschland Tour im Thüringer Wald. Die Favoriten werden Ruhe bewahren, denn die Etappe ist lang. Die Strecke nach Franken ist wellig, sehenswert aber ohne allzu große sportliche Hürden. Mein Tipp: das Peloton kontrolliert die Ausreißer bis Erlangen und auf der Zielrunde kommt es zu einem Schlagabtausch der Favoriten. Das Finale ist typisch Deutschland Tour: zwei steile Anstiege auf der Runde und der Kampf um Bonussekunden – wenn es in der Gesamtwertung eng zugeht, suchen die Favoriten hier die Vorentscheidung.“

4. Etappe: Erlangen – Nürnberg
29. August (Sonntag)
Distanz: 154,4 km | Höhenmeter: 2.000

DT21 Etappenprofil 4″Die Schlussetappe ist ein Meisterstück nach dem Motto ‚kurz, aber knackig‘. Es geht einmal quer durch die Fränkische Schweiz mit einem Profil, das wir sonst nur von belgischen Klassikern kennen. Im Mittelteil haben wir 13 steile Anstiege auf 100 Kilometer verteilt. Es gibt kaum Chancen auf Erholung. Wenn die Favoriten es wollen, können sie am Sonntag ganz früh ein Ausscheidungsrennen starten. Das ist ideal für die Klassikerspezialisten, aber der Weg zum Gesamtsieg wird Kräfte kosten. Wenn sie zu zögerlich sind, bleibt den bergfesten Sprintern doch noch eine Chance, sich auf der prestigeträchtigen Altstadtrunde den Tagessieg zu sichern. Wie knapp es in Nürnberg zwischen Ausreißern und Sprintern zugehen kann, weiß ich aus eigener Erfahrung. So bleibt die Deutschland Tour bis zum letzten Zieleinlauf ein Sekundenspiel und für die Fans spannend bis zum Schluss.“

ARCTIC RACE OF NORWAY 2021

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Key points:
· Warren Barguil is eager for revenge after a near miss two years ago and recent Tour de France withdrawal.

· 11 Tour de France teams out of 19 on the start line.
Alexander Kristoff and Edvald Boasson Hagen to pass the baton to the new generation of Norwegian talents.

A dedicated fisherman himself, Warren Barguil loves the atmosphere of the Arctic Race of Norway. He returned in 2019 to avenge himself for the misfortune of his crash the year before. He took the lead on top of Storheia but missed out on the overall victory by one second due to a split at the eleventh hour on the final stage in Narvik. In June this year, he questioned about the course of the northernmost bike race with the idea of finally being crowned in a competition that is close to his heart.
The queen stage to Målselv suits him but the former French champion and King of of the Mountains in the 2017 Tour de France won’t be the only favourite of the eighth edition of the ARN. Ben Hermans, the only stage winner in the “Alpine Village” (in 2015) up to date, will lead Israel Start-Up Nation with the aim of an overall success this time around. No less than 11 teams will line up in Tromsø after having taken part in the Tour de France: Astana-Premier Tech with former u23 world champion Samuele Battistella, AG2R Citroën Team with classics star Oliver Naesen, Bora-Hansgrohe with road captain Juraj Sagan, Cofidis with Giro d’Italia stage winner Victor Lafay, Qhubeka NextHash with brave heart Nic Dlamini, TotalEnergies with Spanish climber Cristian Rodriguez and Paris-Roubaix winner Niki Terpstra, Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert matériaux with Norway’s Odd Christian Eiking, the Storheia stage winner two years ago, Uno-X pro cycling teal with Markus Hoelgaard who claimed the last stage in Narvik the following day.

Shall sprinters get an opportunity or more, Alexander Kristoff, racing under the colours of the Norwegian national team, will face a fierce competition in the presence of Christophe Laporte (Cofidis), Martin Laas (Bora-Hansgrohe), Bryan Coquard (B&B Hotels p/b KTM), Dan McLay (Team Arkea-Samsic), Rudy Barbier (Israel Start-Up Nation), Clément Venturini (AG2R Citroën Team), Edouard Michael Grosu (Delko), Manuel Penalver (Burgos-BH) and Juanjo Lobato (Euskaltel-Euskadi).
Besides Kristoff, Edvald Boasson Hagen is the other Norwegian hero in contention. He’s yet to impose himself at the Arctic Race of Norway. In his only participation so far, he came second to Kristoff in Harstad in 2015. Both will assess the level of their succession as the country has plenty of young riders likely to take over. Andreas Leknessund, 22, will make his debut along with Kristoff but he knows the event for having had a first taste in 2017 with the Heroes of Tomorrow’s organised by Equinor… in Tromsø, his hometown! Søren Wærenskjold, 21, second in the Norwegian championship for ITT, has a lot of power in store to combine forces with Hoelgaard and Torstein Træen who finished fifth in the Tour d’Alsace in France last week. Erik Lunder, 22, recently won the Dookola Mazowsza overall in Poland for Team Coop while his team-mate Tord Gudmestad, 20, took two stages after he became the u23 Norwegian champion for road racing.
Since 2013, the Arctic Race of Norway is a springboard for future champions.

2021 ARCTIC RACE OF NORWAY: in Finland and in the footsteps of Van der Poel

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Key points:

Ø The 8th edition of the Arctic Race of Norway will be held on 5–8 August 2021.
Ø For the first time, the world’s northernmost race will venture outside Norway, with the finish to stage two taking place in the town of Kilpisjärvi in Finland.
Ø The first two days will offer the sprinters the opportunity to show their prowess. The general classification will then be decided over the course of the weekend stages, with a summit finish in Målselv on Saturday and a climb to the line in Harstad on Sunday.

The Arctic Race of Norway is an event that people have deeply missed in 2020. Breath-taking landscapes lovers as much as cycling experts have a special feeling for the northernmost bike race. Since 2013, sprint finishes – made popular in Scandinavia by Thor Hushovd who won the inaugural edition and has been the race ambassador all along – as well as punchy and hilltop finales have delighted the fans by delivering unpredictable racing. In seven editions, Alexander Kristoff, Steven Kruijswijk, Sam Bennett, Silvan Dillier, Rein Taarämae, Danny van Poppel, Gianni Moscon, John Degenkolb, Dylan Teuns, Mathieu van der Poel, Bryan Coquard and Alexey Lutsenko have made the most of their respective skills. Some of them have come of age at the Arctic Race of Norway before going on for further conquests. Suspense often remains until the dying moments. Two years ago, the general classification was still unclear as the first riders crossed the finish line on the conclusive stage. Ultimately, Kazakh rider Alexey Lutsenko won the overall by a second, ahead of French national champion Warren Barguil. Elsewhere, if the general public didn’t know yet what cyclo-cross prodigy Mathieu van der Poel was able to achieve in road racing, the images of the Arctic Race of Norway broadcast worldwide announced in 2018 and 2019 what was going to spice up the first week of the 2021 Tour de France.

Van der Poel’s first of three stage victories took place in Kirkenes, near Russia. For the first time in its eight editions, the Arctic Race of Norway will cross a border to held stage 2 finish in Finland. For the first time also, the event will start in Tromsø, Northern Norway’s most iconic city and the finishing point for the 2014 and 2017 editions. The first stage, on Thursday 5 August, will take the riders to the east to complete a loop before leading back to the city. The riders will then perform three laps of an 8.6 km circuit. A categorised climb (1.2 km at 8%) with 2.5 km to go will stretch the peloton out before it reaches the finish line, where the victorious rider will write his name into the history books alongside those of Alexander Kristoff and Dylan Teuns, the two previous winners in Tromsø.

On the second day of racing, the Arctic Race will visit Nordkjosbotn for the first time. On a day of firsts, the riders will then make the Arctic Race’s inaugural foray outside Norway, with the last 12 km taking place in Finland. Earlier in the stage, the riders will skirt the Storfjord before entering a valley that steadily climbs to 500 m of altitude at Kilpisjärvi. Despite four categorised climbs, this 177,6 km stage should be one for the sprinters unless the wind enables splits in the peloton.
The third day will have an air of déjà vu about it. Running from Finnsnes to Målselv, the 184.5 km route scheduled for stage three is almost identical to the one undertaken on 15 August 2015, during the third edition of the race. The only difference is that the peloton will ride the first loop on the island of Senja in the opposite direction to four years ago, when Belgium’s Ben Hermans emerged victorious. In 2021, this queen stage will offer five opportunities for the riders to collect climbing points, including the final ascent to a summit finish at the ski resort of Målselv (3.7 km at 7.8%). The battle for general classification places should play out on the climbs leading to the “Alpine Village”.
While the public may see the final stage of the Tour de France as nothing more than a stroll in the park for its participants, the same cannot be said for the Arctic Race. The fourth stage, 163,3 km of racing between Gratangen and Harstad, is tailor-made for the puncheurs. Gratangen will welcome the race for the first time. Taking place against a stunning backdrop of fjords, the first part of the final stage will see the riders scale three categorised climbs. The race will then conclude with an 8.4 km circuit in Harstad, which was also the setting for the climax to the very first edition of the race, won by local favourite Thor Hushovd. Fellow countryman Alexander Kristoff would also go on to win the first stage there in 2015. The 2021 winner will have to successfully negotiate three climbs up the hill of Novkollen (2 km at 5,5%), before proving his strength on a final ramp to the finish line.

Route of the 2021 Arctic Race of Norway:

Ø Thursday 5th August, stage 1: Tromsø – Tromsø, 142,4km
Ø Friday 6th August, stage 2: Nordkjosbotn – Storfjord / Kilpisjärvi, 177,6km
Ø Saturday 7th August, stage 3: Finnsnes – Målselv (Alpine Village), 184,5km
Ø Sunday 8th August, stage 4: Gratangen – Harstad, 163,3km

CERATIZIT CHALLENGE BY LA VUELTA 21 TEAMS SELECTION

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The organizers of the CERATIZIT Challenge by La Vuelta 21 have chosen the teams that will take part in the 7th edition of the women’s race which will be held from the 2nd to the 5th of September for the first time in Galicia. The most important Spanish race in the women’s World Tour clalendar continues to grow and will feature four stages in total: two mid-mountain stages, a mountain time trial and an epic sprint finale in Santiago de Compostela.

The following 9 UCI WorldTeams are automatically invited to the race:

Ale’ BTC Ljubljana (ITA)
Canyon//SRAM Racing (GER)
FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope (FRA)
Liv Racing (NED)
Movistar Team Women (ESP)
Team BikeExchange (AUS)
Team DSM (GER)
Team SD Worx (NED)
Trek-Segafredo (USA)

In addition to these 9 teams, the organizers have awarded the following wildcards:

Bepink (ITA)
Bizkaia – Durango (ESP)
CERATIZIT – WNT Pro Cycling Team (GER)
Eneicat – RBH Global – Martin Villa (ESP)
Team Coop – Hitec Products (NOR)
Instafund Racing (CAN)
Jumbo-Visma Women Cycling Team (NED)
Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi (ESP)
Massi – Tactic Women Team (ESP)
Rio Miera – Cantabria Deporte (ESP)
Sopela Women’s Team (ESP)
Team Farto – BTC (ESP)
Team Tibco – Silicon Valley Bank (USA)
Valcar – Travel & Service (ITA)
Women Cycling Sport (ESP)

More information about the CERATIZIT Challenge by La Vuelta: www.challengebylavuelta.com